Final Preparations for Winter Games NZ
23rd August 2023
The 2023 edition of the Winter Games NZ kicks off on Friday with the Opening Ceremony held in Wānaka. NEW
Over 450 athletes from more than 30 nations will be competing at the Winter Games NZ 2023.
One of whom is GB’s Mia Brookes who is last season’s Snowboard Slopestyle World Champion.
The action will kick off on the 27th of August at Cardrona Alpine Resort, with the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships freeski slopestyle qualifiers.
It is followed by the snowboard slopestyle qualifiers on the 28th, and the slopestyle finals on the 29th.
With the Junior World Champion title on the line, expect to see some heavy hitting riding from the competitors.
Image c/o Neil Kerr, Winter Games NZ
Meanwhile, over the Crown Range at Queenstown’s Coronet Peak, the FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Alpine Ski Racing programme gets underway on the 28th of August.
It starts with two Giant Slalom races on consecutive days.
Two Slalom races follow on the 31st August and 1st September at Coronet Peak.
On the 2nd of September the action heads to The Remarkables Ski Area, where The North Face Frontier weather window opens.
The two best days out of seven will be selected for hosting the 2* and the 4* competition days.
The 2023 North Face Frontier boasts the biggest start list we have ever seen, with an incredible number of up and coming Kiwi athletes competing in the 2* event and a roster of international talent in the 4* event.
Image c/o Ross Mackay, Winter Games NZ
Wrapping up the 2023 Winter Games NZ programme is the inaugural International Obsidian Challenge, where the best of the best from all four corners of the globe will be competing in a unique team format competition.
Expect to see the likes of Nico Porteous, NZ (2022 Beijing Freeski Halfpipe Olympic Gold medallist), Mia Brookes, GBR (2023 Snowboard Slopestyle World Champion) and Alex Hall, USA (2022 Beijing Freeski Slopestyle Olympic Gold medallist) representing their respective teams.
“After months of preparation we are looking forward to getting the Games underway,” said Winter Games NZ CEO, Marty Toomey.
“We expect to see some mind blowing performances from some of the worlds best snow sports athletes and look forward to seeing what the best emerging talent can bring to the party.”
For those wanting to watch the Winter Games NZ action on snow there are spectator maps located on the Winter Games NZ website – www.wintergamesnz.kiwi.
There are options for spectators who are skiing or snowboarding and for those who are on foot.
There will be Live Streams available on the Winter Games NZ website for the Alpine Ski Racing and the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships Finals.
Freestyle in New Zealand. Image © PlanetSKI.
New Zealand is currently experiencing some good snow conditions.
Athlete Entry numbers per event as of 20/08/23:
FIS Australia New Zealand Cup Alpine races – 82 Athletes
FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships (Freeski) – 93
FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships (Snowboard) – 104
The North Face Frontier 2* – 103 Athletes (FULL)
The North Face Frontier 4* – 60 Athletes (FULL)
Obsidian – 32 athletes (FULL)
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